Author Note

I started this story quite awhile ago. I originally wanted to wait until I had finished this one to post it, but I think it's ridiculous when I know that two other stories are going to be linked with this one. So, I'll probably be writing for the majority of this year and some of next before this thing is completely done. There were a few things I wanted to tell readers before they start this, my main concern is this ultimately will be a James and Lily story. But this is her life in her point of view, and the things that happen in here are going to shape her life. Rather than having it be 800 chapters (I probably can do that...) There are four for each year, plus a prologue, and an epilogue giving some closure. I'm a fan of Lily and Snape friendship but I can't help but fell when you read this you'll probably see it not go that way at all and get a little frustrated. It may hint at Lily and Remus too, but again, in the end she'll be with James because that's how completely cannon I am. As for the other two stories, I'm writing one for Sirius and one for Snape. Why not James as they're my favorite Potterverse couple? Because you'll know everything you'll need to about him between Sirius and Lily. I'm just going with who my personal favorites, and after I though about it the trio are over lapping more than I thought possible. As I'm posting this one first, and the other two are far behind it in numbers of chapters I really can't alert you to which ones will crossover and which wont. You'll have clues by the titles if you wanted to look them up. If not, they're completely stand alone, I just think the way they over lap gets you a better impression on how I think the characters developed.

Cheers!

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns Harry Potter, if she didn't and I did, I'd already have a series about the Marauders.

Prologue: The Representative

Mr. and Mrs. Evans were extremely normal in every way. They lived in a cozy house, in an average town. They had two daughters, both bright, excellent in school. But they, like any other family had a secret, one that didn't scare them, one until possibly this instant they didn't dwell upon, or give much thought to. One that defiantly made them different from the average family they thought they were.

"Mum," Lily called. "I got a letter, may I open it?" Lily asked her mother. She had a manila letter sized envelope in her hand, which appeared to be stuffed.

"Well, lets see..." She took the letter and read who the sender was. They were expecting letters from a few schools in the area since Lily would need to start at a new school this September. "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?" She handed it back to Lily. "You can open it dear, lets see what it says."

Lily opened the letter. She was a bit excited, she never got mail. Any mail for her was addressed to her parents. Then again, who would write to an eleven year old?

Dear Ms. Evans, it started. Lily seemed much more interested now.

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September First. We await your owl by no later than July 31st.

"Await...my Owl..." Lily looked a bit taken. "What do you suppose that means Mum?"

They looked at the school list, which seemed a bit odd to both of them. "We'll have to wait until your father comes home. I don't know what to think of this..."

"Mum...do you think it could be like Severus said? There really is a magic school. I want to go if he's going. I'd do really well I promise, he says they'd teach us how to use magic properly...."

"Yes...we'll have to wait and see what your father says. Help your sister set the table, we'll discuss it after dinner."

"Here's the letter." She handed her husband the letter Lily had received earlier. "Maybe we should send a letter back? Ask them for more information..It's rather confusing. We always knew she was special...but...I'd hate to send her away to a place I've never heard of.."

"I think you missed a paper in all of this...Did you read this one?" Mr. Evans handed it to his wife. "Says they're sending someone two days from now to explain things further. So well defiantly get answers. In all honesty, it would do more harm than good to hide it any longer. She has to go away for school now anyway. There aren't any good schools for a girl her age around here. Does she not want to go?"

"She does want to. She says her friend will be going as well. I don't know. Maybe we should just wait two days and see what this person has to say."

"I agree."

"Sev!" Lily found him reading by some bushes at the park. He usually was here after she left school, either because he knew she'd come by, or simply because he hated being in his house. "You were right! I got a letter." Lily was ecstatic.

"Why are you so surprised?" He smirked. "I told you they'd send you a letter when you turned eleven. Your too good at the magic you can do to not be.."

"Tuny won't be able to go though will she? Mum told her last night she couldn't, she was so upset."

"Its not a place for Muggles, just wizards and witches. If she's not able to do magic now, she won't be able to. Besides, they don't let people older than eleven in anyway, you have to know everything from the first and second year to move on.."

"I was looking forward to going to school with both of you...."

"We're both going. I'll be your friend when were there, with any luck we'll both get into Slytherin, that would be great."

"What's Slytherin?" She asked. Her book bag was on the ground in front of her and she was playing with a flower.

"When you go to Hogwarts your sorted into one of four houses. Slythren is the best one. There's Gryffindor, they're typically a bunch of idiots..." She eyed him curiously. "Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad, they're usually really bright. Hufflepuff is the worst. Its where the people who don't fit in with the other houses go."

"If I get into Hufflepuff will you still be my friend?" She asked shyly.

"Of course. I'll be your friend no matter what. But you won't get into Hufflepuff, you'll get a good house."

"Will it matter...being...well...not being from a wizarding family." She set the flower down apparently bored.

"Not to anyone important. There are always going to be some people who don't like muggle born witches or wizards, but I don't think it will be a problem for you. They probably won't even notice."

Lily smiled. "I'm glad you think so. Tell me more about Hogwarts, since I got my letter I need to know all about it. My parents don't seem to want me to go right now, they're waiting to talk to a representative from the school."

"They have to let you go you belong at Hogwarts."

"I can't go if they don't want me to. The representative is coming tomorrow night. Then I'll know for sure. But please tell me more about Hogwarts."

"It's a big castle, away from everyone else for the most part. There's a wizarding village near by, all wizards..We'll get to go there in our third year. Mum said there are big staircases that move. Loads of ghosts live in the castle..."

"Ghosts? Mean ghosts?" She replied a little alarmed.

"Well, I doubt they'd hurt students. So they're probably not mean." She relaxed, he smiled.

"What type of classes would we take?"

"Magic, all sorts of magic. Transfiguration, you know making objects change into something else. Charms and spells of course. Potions, History at the beginning I bet...Astronomy, Astronomy is important to Wizards. Loads really, It'll be great, you'll get to go. The representative will do a great job explaining it, you'll see." He continued smiling as he spoke.

"Yeah, your right." She smiled back. "They have to do it loads of times a year. Every time someone with non wizarding parents goes there."

He nodded. "They'll send the best person. Maybe they'll give you something, like a book so you know more than I do about Hogwarts. Then you'd fit in better, all the stuff I told you and whatever they tell you."

"We'll know soon. I'll tell you all about it the next time I see you." She looked down at her watch. "I have to get home and start my homework...Sev...you don't go to school do you?"

"I'm home schooled. Most wizarding families home school their children until they get into Hogwarts."

She stood up and took her bad from the ground. He seemed a little down and started to read his book again. "I'll see you tomorrow. You'll be here right?"

"Where else would I be?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Well...home I'd imagine. I'll tell you all about it Thursday. I promise."

"Home...home isn't very pleasant. Here it's much better..." He smiled at her. "I'll be here every day around this time. Don't worry."

"Bye Sev." He smiled.

"Bye Lily." When he lost sight of her his smile faded and he went back to his book.

"Tuny, you can't still be mad it's not my fault!" Lily looked over the table at her sister who was home for a break.

"Mum and Dad won't let you." She replied viciously.

"You don't know that! They said they'd make there decision tonight..As soon as they talk..."

"They aren't going to let you go to that freak school. You can go tell your stupid friend he's going alone." She crossed her arms and glared at her younger sister.

"They will! That's a horrible thing to say...why are you saying such awful things?" Lily asked.

"You don't know anything do you? Your little friend could be lying, they could just lock you up until you can't do any of that stuff anymore."

"That's not how it works, and he wouldn't lie to me! Your just jealous I'm going and your not." She replied sharply.

"Why would I be jealous of you?" Petunia replied firmly. "You or that creepy Snape kid."

"Leave him alone!"

"Did you girls start your homework yet?" Mrs. Evans asked from the doorway the commotion startled her.

"Yes Mum." They both replied. Lily looked a bit hurt as she packed her books back in her bag.

"You know we have a guest coming tonight." She replied promptly.

"Mum, do you think the school is a bad place?" Lily asked Petunia smirked.

"Well, I doubt it would be. But then again I know nothing about it. I promise, after tonight we'll talk about if you can go or not." She replied fondly. "Why don't you and your sister set the table? Your father will be home soon."

"Tuny.." Lily started she took the plates from her sister and set them in their place. "Please don't say Hogwarts or magic is freakish…"

"It is." She snapped.

"It is not!"

"That Snape kid is a freak. He's never at his house, he likely lives at the part with how dirty and greasy he looks."

"It's not his fault he doesn't like his house." Lily retorted Petunia scoffed.

"I don't like him.

"I don't care. He's still my friend." She crossed her arms and gave her sister a look that clearly made her feel if she continued, she'd regret it.

There was a knock on the door, Lily and Petunia were sitting at the newly cleaned table, working on their homework. They both looked startled. They heard the footsteps of their mother, followed by voices in the hallway, introductions, more than likely of the representative and her parents. They both peaked out, Petunia hid behind Lily, thinking she'd be safer that way. Lily really did wonder if she'd be allowed to ask questions. Maybe the representative was more for her parents. In that case she probably wouldn't be allowed to, it would be just like the parties they'd have when they'd be sent to a sitter. Of course what would she say if she were allowed to talk to the representative? What if the representative had to test her to make sure she could use magic? She'd be so nervous she was sure she'd never be able to go, then she couldn't go to school with Severus.

"Lily could you come her for a moment." Her mother called suddenly. Curiously, Lily walked into the room, excited but frightened.

"This is Professor McGonagal. She's the Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts."

"Good evening Professor." Lily replied softly still much too nervous for her liking.

"Lily you can sit down." Her mother replied instantly. She sat between her parents on the sofa and looked at the Professor still much too nervous for her liking.

"Naturally you have many questions for me but before we start I have this paper to give you." She gave them a paper Lily glanced at it briefly, it was a bunch of numbers. "That is about how much it would cost for her schooling if you wish to send her. Our Muggle Studies teacher did the calculations."

"That's really quite affordable." She nodded and handed it to her husband. "We're still fascinated that there is a magic school."

"Our education goes on for seven years. Of course she would not be forced to stay in the school over Christmas holiday. Not to mention the months where she would have a summer break."

"They would both be home around the same time." Her father reasoned.

"Where exactly is Hogwarts?" Her mother asked, Petunia was still hiding in the doorway.

"Further north, it's well protected." Her parents looked at each other, taken aback. "If she became a student, she isn't allowed to use magic outside of school."

"We don't let her use magic anyway. Ever since she started using it we've been using caution." Her mother replied.

Lily watched the professor, there was so much more she wanted to ask. So many questions, she wanted to go now and see what the school, looked like and what classes were like.

"Naturally Lily is full of questions." Professor Mcgonagal replied with a smile at her.

"My friend said that we'll be sorted into houses. What exactly does that mean?" She asked.

"They're like different dorms. But when your at Hogwarts you earn or lose points based on behavior. Most of the friends you'll make will likely be members of your house."

"Which one is the best?"

Professor McGonagal smiled. "I'm partial to Gryffindor myself. Being it's head and all." She sipped her tea and smiled. Lily smiled back.

"The sorting goes by your personality. Great witches and wizards have come from all four houses. They just very with personality. I think you'll do well regardless of what house your sorted into."

"What's Transfiguration like?"

"It's very difficult. But if you put the time and effort into it, its very rewarding."

"Is everything hard?"

"It gets easier, as you get better. But it won't be easy."

"Will it be hard for her, since she's not from a wizarding family?" Mr Evans asked abruptly.

"No, we've had many muggleborn students that did wonderful. There are always people the are prejudice, but it won't affect her grades."

"I don't see any reason why she shouldn't go." Mr. Evans replied.

"I can go to Hogwarts?"

"I don't see why not. We'd have to send you to another school anyway. We might as well make it one where you can use your talent." Her mother responded. "It's very different, having a witch in the family."

"So what happened? Are your parents letting you go?" Severus asked after Lily finished the rant about how the representative was.

"Yes! I have my train ticket and everything. Well, not the books and school stuff but I have the list." She smiled brightly.

"Looks like we'll be going to school together then." he smiled. "I have my ticket and list too."

"I hope we get into the same house." Lily jumped off the swing next to him and spun around to face him.

"That would be great. We'd always be in the same classes. If we were in different house would we still be in the same classes?" She asked after she climbed back into the swing and started again.

"Yeah, my mum said we have classes with all the houses at different times. So we'd still have a class or two together, it would just be better if we were in the same house." Lily was beaming with pride as she swung and seem to not be paying him the slightest bit of attention.

"We could do homework together, and study. Of course I'll need your help ever so much when we get there. I'll be so horribly confused."

"You'll do great."

"Or so you say. My parents want to take me to Diagon alley before summer starts. Then I'll have all my books and can read. The head start may help me not stick out like a sore thumb. You should come with us! You have to get books and things too."

"I think my mum just wants me to use hers." He replied bitterly. "Dad doesn't like magic."

"It's a shame he doesn't. My parents are as excited as I am to go."

"Well your luckier than most. I doubt many muggleborn witches and wizards have parents like yours."

The rest of the school year felt like forever to Lily. She couldn't wait until she went to Hogwarts., it was really hard not to tell the friends she had where she was going. Her parents told her to only say her school was up North, and she would be home for Christmas and Summer. She understood why, Petunia seemed to be more and more angry with her as the days grew nearer. Severus and Lily found a letter from the head master of Hogwarts shortly after Lily received her letter. Petunia seemed to loath him more after it. So Lily tried to spend more time outside of the house with him, which only seemed to make matters worse with her sister.

"Next week were going to Diagon alley." Lily said she was swinging next to Severus. "We're going right after we visit our Aunt, she lives in London, so, they think its best to go then instead of waiting. I'm not allowed to talk about it though, my mum said she might react badly."

"I can understand that. My Dad was furious when I first started doing magic. It was even worse when I got my letter…"

"Why would he be so upset? Even if he doesn't like magic he should still be glad you get to go to a good school." Lily jumped from the swing when it reached as high as it could go. "You don't think they'll send Dementors here do you?"

"No, they won't send them to get you at all. They only get really bad people. But you still shouldn't use magic.."

"I didn't. I wanted to…but I didn't. I want to be a good student and to do that I can't use magic when I'm out of school. You think I could be a prefect?"

"Defiantly. I'll be one too. Maybe we'll even be head boy and girl together in our last year."

"What do you do if you are?" She started to swing again after brushing some dirt off her sundress.

"The same sort of thing a prefect does. Only you have to be the best in the year. There's only one of each." Severus stopped swinging and watched Lily.

" I don't know if I'll ever be that good. I wish I could."

"You'll do great. You remember everything I've been telling you about magic. You're far from lost…"

"But that doesn't make me amazing." She glanced over at him, starting to swing slowly.

"But you're an amazing person. The rest will come to you. If you ever need help at potions I'll be able to help for sure. I've been practicing with my Mum."

"I want to make potions too…I don't think my mum would let me though, I wouldn't know what to do myself anyway…so I guess there's no point really."

"We can practice at school. I'll teach you everything I know."

"Could you bring a daily prophet tomorrow? I want to see what it says. I feel like I'm a millennium behind…"

"Sure, my Mum won't miss it. You mind if its an old one? Like today's, I don't think she'd let me take a new one unless she finished it."

"Of course not, and would be wonderful. I just want to see one, read some articles, learn more about the Wizarding world."

"A lot of it's boring. You'd be better off reading the textbooks."

"But they won't have real events. Everyone else will know what's going on except me. I'll stand out like a sore thumb."

"Trust me, you won't be as clueless as you think you are. Lots of people aren't going to be reading newspapers. Is your sister still being mean?"

"In her own way, sometimes she's not that bad. Others she'll just be sharp or call me a freak."

"You're not a freak, and I bet you'll make a fantastic witch." he smiled lightly at her, she seemed down.

"I hope so. So what exactly is Quiddich again? I'm not sure I understand how it works.."

"It's easier to understand when you see it." he replied nervously.

"How about when we get to school we go to one together?" she got off the swing.

"Sounds great." he smiled.

"I don't want to go back yet." Lily looked at her watch, it was nearly six. "I have to though, sorry Sev, I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Of course I'll be waiting." he looked a bit down after she left the playground.

The rest of the week felt like forever, it went by so slowly. Lily couldn't wait to go to Diagon alley, she read as many of the daily prophets as Severus could bring to her. She even made sure to write down anything she didn't know so Severus could tell her about it the next time they met. By the end of the week, her notebook was almost full of possibly useful phrases and terms for Hogwarts. Tomorrow, she was going to go to go to Diagon alley, while she enjoyed easter with her Aunt, she couldn't talk about any of the things she was gaining interest in. She felt completely alone, she wanted to talk to Severus everyday like when she was in school. But being at her Aunts did have it's perks, Petunia was being very civil. They played quite a few games with each other and she seemed for at least this point in time to not want to call her a freak.

"The letter said to ask Tom, in the Leaky Caldron how to get into Diagon Alley." Lily said a new skip in her step.

"What an odd name for a place." Petunia replied.

"I hope everyone is patient with us." Mrs. Evans replied.

"Mum can I get a cat?" Lily asked. She turned her attention away from the car window. "Please? I can take it to Hogwarts with me. The letter said…"

"All animals are filthy." Petunia replied with a scowl.

"Lily, we've already said no. I'm sorry but it would probably be too expensive, we'd have to take it back in the car, for the hours it would take us to go home. There is also the matter of Petunia not feeling comfortable with one…."

Lily ignored the rest of the reasons and looked back out the window. They were just about there, and she didn't want to miss anything.

Lily was thrilled to get her wand she now twirled around between her fingers. Petunia eyed her nervously.

"Look! There are so may animals." Lily stared into the window. "Can we go inside?"

Petunia backed away. "I'm not going in."

"Lily, you can go ahead. We'll just wait out here." Mr. Evans replied.

Lily walked into the store. She glanced around. There were cats, owls, rats, toads and a number of other animals. She instantly went to where the cats were. She played with one of the kittens for a few minuets before turning her attention to the owls. She had to admit, they were all so beautiful. When she turned to leave she noticed a boy, about her age standing where she was only moments before. His clothes looked shabby, in a way he reminded her of Severus.

"Hi." She said with a wave in his direction. He looked back at her a bit bewildered. He must not have many friends. "Are you going to Hogwarts too?" There was no sense in trying to not talk about it, if he were her age, she might even make a friend.

"Yes…" The tone of his voice was shaky. Like he hadn't spoken to anyone new in a long while.

"What's your name? Mine is Lily. Lily Evans."

The boy now smiled lightly, seeming to relax. "My name's Remus, Remus Lupin."

Lily smiled. "I have to go. My parents are outside. Let's be friends at Hogwarts okay?"

"Okay." He nodded and seemed to be in a better mood. The door closed behind her and she heard her father say, "Shall we head home? You have all your things, and it's getting late."

She could barely sleep that night. She had so many things she was bursting to say to Severus. It was a shame she had school the next day or she'd head to the park right away. She really did at times wonder exactly where Severus lived, he never asked her over, he always just came to their house. She couldn't wait to start studying magic. She had a book open on the floor next to her bed, there was a bookmark about twenty pages in, her notebook grew larger with words she'd have to have Severus define for her. It was almost midnight before she fell asleep.

"Sev, I'm worried about Hogwarts." Lily admitted shyly. She had a textbook in hand, they had been preparing for classes since June.

"Why? You'll do great."

"What if we get sorted into different houses?"

"We'll still be friends. You've really been doing great." She gave him a skeptical look. "Come on, well actually be able to practice spells once we're there. But you know so much already. You memorized all the important tricks from the potions book."

"What if no one likes me?"

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't they like you? Your just…" He blushed a little, she didn't notice.

"I hope the sorting isn't hard…"

"It won't be, they wouldn't be impossible. Which classes are you looking foreword to the most?"

Lily smiled. "I can't wait to get there. Anything magical is new to me. It's going to be challenging, but I can't wait."

"Just don't tell anyone your Muggleborn." He said importantly. "They won't notice unless you tell them."

She didn't really understand what they meant until it was far too late to do anything about it. The way he warned her so many times before they went to the school should have been a dead give away it was taboo. But when your Eleven, you've just discovered your going to a place that's like a new world in comparison to what your accustomed to, you don't exactly have the time or patients to translate the headlines into a manner of understanding them. They articles themselves weren't too large, the Death Eaters hadn't taken too many lives, yet, it's amazing how much something could change in a year. Amazing still, how much could change in seven.